Fire extinguisher



Feb. 21,

.c. J. MARCHELL 2,498,131

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 3, 1944 Fig. 2. 3

2 l *J 1 1 z .9

" H i /3 m i 5 Inventor Charles J. Marchel/ Patented Feb. 21, 1950UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I FIRE EXTINGUISHEB Charles J. Marchell, Torrington fionnr.

Application November 3, 1944, Serial No. 5613705' The present inventionrelates to new and use-' ful improvements in fire extinguishers ofthe'portable: type. and. has for its primary object: to: provide; in amanner as hereinafter set forth,v a thermally-controlled device. of thischaracter which. will. automatically discharge the contents when thesurrounding. atmosphere rises above a predetermined.temperature;

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic fireextinguisher of the aforementioned character which will be comparativelysimple in construction, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View ofa fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the presentinvention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the bottomportion of the device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan View, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in bottom plan of the extinguisher.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tankI of suitable dimensions and material. The tank I includes an elevatedbottom 2.

The tank I is for the reception of water or any other suitableextinguishing fluid, also air under pressure for ejecting the fluid.Toward this end, the rounded top portion 3 of the tank I has threadedlymounted therein a removable filler plug 4. Also mounted in the upperportion 3 of the tank I is an air valve 5. A handle 6 is provided on theback of the tank I adjacent the top thereof.

Mounted on the front of the tank I adjacent the bottom 2 thereof is aforwardly and then downwardly extending discharge pipe I. A nozzle 8 isconnected to the discharge pipe I and interposed in the pipe is a valve9. An arm I is fixed on the valve and extends rearwardly and downwardlyrelative to the discharge pipe.

Mounted horizontally in the lower portion of the tank I beneath thebottom 2 thereof is a bellows type thermostat II. One end of thethermostat II is adjustably secured to the lower 3 Claims. (0]. 169*26).2 portion of the tank I through: the: medium: of ascrew I2. Connectedto the other endo'f. the thermos-tat I I is a red} #3 whichextendsi'slidabl'y' through an: opening provided thereforinthe' front.portion. of the tank I for engagement; with. the arm tit. The rod i3?includes: a" notche'dsportion I74;- A. resilient dog or latch. I5v on"the front of thetank I is engageablewith the notched portion M ofthe-rod l3vfor' preventing retraction of: said rodsafter itasb'eenactuated: by the expanding thermostat I: I1. 3

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the arm It in theposition shown in the drawings, the valve 9 is closed. However, shouldthe surrounding atmosphere rise above a predetermined temperature, theadjustably mounted thermostat II will expand and move the rod I3forwardly. The rod I3, which is engaged at its forward end with the armI0, swings the latter forwardly and upwardly, thereby opening the valve9. The resilient latch I5 engages the notched portion I4 of the rod I3for retaining the valve 9 in an open or discharging position, eventhoughthe thermostat II should return to contracted position in theevent that the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere should drop.When the valve 9 is thus opened, the extinguishing fluid is dischargedfrom the tank I by the air under pressure in the upper portion of saidtank. The construction and arrangement, it will be observed, is suchthat, if desired, the valve 9 may readily be manually opened by swingingthe arm I9 upwardly by hand. By adjusting the screw I2, the thermostatII may be caused to function at different temperatures.

If desired, the device may be used as an audible fire alarm or signal.Toward this end, the tank I is charged with compressed air or any othersuitable gas. A whistle is connected to the nozzle 8 or substitutedtherefor on the valve 9. Then, when the valve 9 is opened by theexpanding thermostat II, the air under pressure in the tank I isdischarged therefrom and blows the whistle.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fire extinguisherconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable fire extinguisher including a tank having an elevatedbottom wall forming a cavity therebeneath, filling and dischargeopenings in said tank, a fluid discharge conduit and nozzle connectedwith said discharge opening, a valve in said conduit, a thermostat, anactuating rod connecting said thermostat to said valve for actuationthereof, adjusting means for regulating the thermal range of movement ofsaid thermostat and non-return means on said actuating rod forpreventing valve closing movement thereof, said thermostat and actuatingrod being received in the cavity in said tank.

2. A portable fire extinguisher including a tank having an elevatedbottom wall forming a cavity therebeneath, filling and dischargeopenings in said tank, a fluid discharge conduit and nozzle connectedwith said discharge opening, a valve in said conduit, a thermostat, anactuating rod connecting said thermostat to said valve for actuationthereof, adjusting means for regulating the thermal range of movement ofsaid thermostat and non-return means on said actuating rod forpreventing valve closing movement thereof, said thermostat and actuatingrod being received in the cavity in said tank, an operating leversecured to said valve, said actuating rod extending into abuttingengagement with said lever.

3. A portable fire extinguisher including a tank having an elevatedbottom wall forming a cavity therebeneath, filling and dischargeopenings in said tank, a fluid discharge conduit and nozzle connectedwith said discharge opening, a valve in said conduit, a thermostat, anactuating rod connecting said thermostat to said valve for actuationthereof, adjusting means for regulating the thermal range of movement ofsaid thermostat and non-return means on said actuating rod forpreventing valve closing movement thereof, said thermostat and actuatingrod being received in the cavity in said tank, said non-return meansincluding a plurality of notches on said actuating rod and a resilientlatch engageable with said notches.

CHARLES J. MARCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,143 Hexamer May 4, 18861,028,808 Campbell June 4, 1912 1,479,788 Collin Jan. 8, 1924 1,783,574Lawler Dec. 2, 1930 1,911,286 Palmieri May 30, 1933 2,367,117 GougeonJan. 9, 1945

